How to Overcome Sleep during Study Hours?

Studying is difficult, especially when preparing for competitive exams like JEE and NEET. Sleep becomes the most challenging obstacle for students studying in the wee hours of the night to prepare for an important exam. The temptation to close your eyes and drift into dreamland is so overwhelming that many students forget about staying awake at night to study for their exams and succumb to sleep.

Though sleep is essential, sometimes, avoiding it while studying is the necessary element of achieving academic success. Fortunately, there are certain things you can do to stop feeling sleepy and boost your energy levels. Here, we list ten tips to help you overcome sleep during study hours.

How to Overcome Sleep during Study Hours?

1. Turn on the bright lights:

Studying under a table lamp or dim lighting may induce sleep due to the cosiness they create. Therefore, it is recommended to brighten your study area with adequate lighting to stop feeling sleepy by tricking your brain into thinking it’s still daytime. Doing this will re-energize your brain and improve its focus to retain the information you are learning.

2. Eat something healthy:

Your brain needs the energy to function; hence eating nutritious snacks such as nuts, cheese, yoghurt, dark chocolate, and seeds will provide you with an instant energy boost that chases away sleep. However, in order to stay awake at night to study, you should avoid overeating. Therefore, eat a light, nutritious meal and steer clear of junk or carb-rich foods because they crash your energy levels later. Also, don’t skip meals because it is difficult to concentrate on an empty stomach. Instead, eat small and frequent meals packed with protein-rich foods like lentils, beans, eggs, peanut butter, tofu, lean beef, Greek yoghurt, etc.

3. Move around:

You are bound to feel sluggish while sitting in the same position for too long. Hence, get up and move around when you feel tired and sleep creeping up. Do moderate or stretching exercises to get your blood flowing and refill your energy. You can also dance to your favourite song, take a short walk around the block, or start pacing in the room. Movements like these work as an energy booster and help you stay awake. You can also study while pacing in your room, which enables you to avoid sleeping and increases your concentration levels.

4. Read aloud and write more:

Any movement will help you in enhancing your energy levels and eliminate sleepiness. When you are preparing for competitive exams, just reading won’t cut. Take a rough notebook and write down all the important points and information. Doing this will help you retain that information for quicker recall and engage your brain to increase focus and concentration. Reading aloud will boost your brain’s alertness and refrain you from falling asleep while studying.

5. Drink caffeinated beverages:

Caffeinated beverages like coffee stimulates the brain and makes you more alert for studying. Caffeine blocks the fatigue-causing cells from reaching the brain. So if you are sleepy, drink a cup of coffee or tea for an instant energy boost. Drink the equivalent of 200 mg of caffeine, which is 12 oz (.35 L) of coffee or 24 oz (.7 L) of tea in 24 hours. Don’t drink too much coffee, as it can harm your health and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

6. Switch Topics:

You tend to feel bored and burnout while studying the same topic for too long. To avoid that, quickly switch your topic when you feel tired. Study another or more interesting topics of the same subject or different subjects altogether. If you are studying in sessions, switch topics after one study session. For example, if you have been studying maths for the past hour, start studying chemistry after a short 5-minute break to avoid burnout.

7. Don’t sit too comfortably:

Sitting too comfortably can induce drowsiness. Therefore it is recommended to study while sitting upright in a chair rather than lying down on your bed or sofa or under a blanket. Getting too comfortable will eventually make you fall asleep while studying, so avoid it. Also, don’t use cushions, pillows, and blankets. You can also study while moving, as it will enhance your blood circulation and concentration levels. Experts recommend setting up a dedicated study space with a table and chair, far away from where you sleep, so your brain can clearly differentiate between the two.

8. Stay hydrated:

Dehydration is the leading cause of sleep. To overcome this, keep a large bottle of water by your side and take big sips whenever you feel tired or sluggish. Drink at least 2 Litres (2,000 ml) of water daily, as drinking more will hydrate your brain, boosting memory and retention power. For encouragement, you can mix it with natural flavouring or fruit juice, but avoid too much sugar, soda, or carbonated drinks as they could crash your energy levels.

9. Chew Gum:

Chewing some mint gums is linked to increased cognitive abilities. Therefore, pop one of your favourite mint gum when you feel tired and sleepy to avoid falling asleep—also, chewing gum while studying increases your blood flow to the brain and stimulates mental arousal. Pick your favourite flavoured mint gum and keep a packet in your backpack and pencil case to grab a piece whenever you need it.

10. Play some upbeat music:

While soothing and relaxing music can help you study well, sometimes upbeat music is what you need to wake up from your stupor. Listening to upbeat music will wake you up instantly from your overwhelming sleepiness. In addition, the right music can help alert your brain to process new information more efficiently. Remember to choose lively or fast-paced music, like pop or dance songs, rather than slow, sad music, which will lower your mood and energy levels.

Follow these tips to overcome sleep during study hours. In addition, academic guidance and personalised mentorship are also important if you are aiming to crack top-tier competitive exams like JEE and NEET. ALLEN Overseas is the leading coaching institute with 34 years of experience and a rich academic success legacy to help you ace various competitive exams and board exams. If you have any queries or suggestions, kindly let us know in the comments section below.